Anti-government blogger sentenced for assaulting Missouri troopers

ST. CLAIR, Mo. – A 47-year-old anti-government advocate and blogger known as Bulletinman was sentenced t o 30 years in prison for assaulting Missouri state troopers during a skirmish at a gas station last year.

The sentence was handed down to Jeffrey Weinhaus in Franklin County court more than a month after being found guilty of assault on a law enforcement officer and armed criminal action.

Jurors initially recommended a 63-year sentence.

The Washington Missourian reports that Weinhaus tried to draw a gun on trooper Henry J. Folsom on Sept. 11, 2012, at an MFA gas station in St. Clair. Folsom and another trooper, Scott Mertens, shot Weinhaus, who was critically injured with bullet wounds to the chest and head.

Jurors also found Weinhaus guilty of possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

During the trial, jurors were shown a YouTube video posted by Weinhaus on Aug. 16, 2012.

“What I’ve been trying to lay down over the last 16 years is my right to go in there and blast you (expletive) out of there if we have to,” Weinhaus said in the video. “You’re going down one way or another.”

Troopers seized Weinhaus’ computer soon after the video was posted and said they found marijuana and drug paraphernalia, along with morphine tablets, at his home.

Testimony indicated that Weinhaus had also threatened police, the prosecutor in neighboring Crawford County, and other judicial officers if they didn’t leave office by Sept. 17, “Constitution Day.”

During testimoney, Folsom said he had been harassed by Weinhaus supporters since the shooting, has not worked, and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. At one point during his testimony Weinhaus muttered, “This is crap.”

“Maybe it is crap, Jeff,” Folsom responded. “But you did this.”

Franklin County prosecutor Robert Parks told the jury that Weinhaus had “no remorse,” and was a danger to society.

“He would have shot those two officers down, all because he has no respect for the law,” Parks said. “He does not deserve to be in our society. He needs to be locked up.”

Hugh Eastwood, Weinhaus’ attorney, said that although Weinhaus’ writing is sometimes extreme, he never hurt anyone.